Portable sample case with collapsible display rack



PORTABLE SAMPLE CASE WITH COLLAPSIBLE DISPLAY RACK Filed Jan. 9, 1951 May 26, 1953 J. J. HELLMAN 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I IN V EN TOR.

Auomqs Jacab J Hellman 2 I 6 f 2|5 fl 7 iv/ I 2/4,, M w w 4 M r A7, a 11 A| n M 1 A i/ y 7 2 w w w 2 n 8 .m. m A 1 a 4 A May 26, 1953 J. J. HELLMAN PORTABLE $AMPLE CASE WITH COLLAPSIBLE-DISPLAY RACK Filed Jan. 9, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig. 2.

Jacob J. Hellman INVENTOR.

BY ad Patented May 26, 1953 UNITED .S TATES "OFfFl CE PORTABLE, SAMPLE oAsEWIT ooL- LAPSIBLE DISPLAY neon Jacob .J. Hellman, Atlanta, Ga. Application 'January'Q, 1951,"S'erial"No." 205,054

3 Claims. (01. 190-13) The presentinvention relates to certain new and useful improvements in portable sample casessuch as'are currently used'by traveling salesmen and others for conveniently transporting "and displayingarticles of apparel and has moreparticular 'reference'to a novel display rack which'is-built into and forms "a permanentpart o'f-the over-all case construction.

More specifically, the invention'appertains towa folding display rack of an extensible and contractible type which is conveniently and compactlyhousedin the sample case when the latter is-in-ready-to-transport form.-and which utilizes thecase as an adequate supporting base when the display rack isswung out and up toits erected displaying position.

A general object of the invention isto structurally, functionally and otherwiseimprove upon similar prior art construction by providing a construction which is comparatively simple, easy to set unequally easy to fold and collapse and is otherwise possessed of specialadaptations and refinements in which manufacturersand users willfin'd their essential needs fully met andsatisfactorily contained.

Another object of the invention is to provide a sturdy and reliable sample case of a-portable type which is of general rectangular'fo-rm and is characterized by a hingedly mounted front wall whichswings down toa horizontalbase forming position, a hingedly .mounted top wall which swings upto allow the display rack to be swung out and erected, andsuitable fastening devices for securing saidf'ront and top walls releasably with one another when they are in case-forming relationship.

Another object has to do with means on the: rack and complemental means on the hinged top wall which .coact in steadying and aptly retaining the rackin its erected ready-to-use position.

Novelty, in addition, is predicated on a simple and practical folding display rack which-is characterized. by a. yoke hingedly mounted between the side walls of the case and provided at its center with an upright, said upright being vertically extensible and constructed to accommodate an attachable and detachable reach armwhich extendsout over the outswung frontwall and'serves to accommodate and amply support-a plurality of garmenthangers'for eifecti-velydisplaying'the sample garments.

Another object of'the invention has to do with are-ck construction whose reach 'armmay bedetached, when the rack is folded, and suspended within' the confines of "the sample casefltoiprovide 2 a so-called pole *overwhich garments' may he drapedand conveniently carried when the case is closed for carrying.

"Other obj ects and'advantages'will beeomemore readily appar'ent from 'thefdllowing description and-thefiaccompaningsheets o'f illustrative dnawings.

Inthe drawingswherein like numerals are em.- ployed to designate dike parts throughout the views:

Figure 1 is a perspective .view, with the portions broken away and i'shown in section, of .a combination carrying andidisplay'case forsample garments, showing "the manner in which the structure is set up and erected Zfor garment displaying purposes;

Figure' 2 is a fragmentary view, .in section: and elevation, taken approximately on the plane of the vertical E line 2'2 of "Figure '1, looking in 1 the direction of the 'arrows; and

Figure 3 is a .central vertical sectional view, with parts' in el'evation, showing the caseclosed and the built-inzrack' in its folded out-"o-f-the-way position.

Referring'now tothe: drawings byway of (reference numerals and accompanying lead lines, the sample case-asra unit is .denotedby the numeral -B. -It:is of suitable material andproportions "and is of .=genera1 rectangular form. It comprises-a flat back-wall t}, longitudinal sides or vertical Walls 1 0 :and l2 a: bottom or end wall l4, a simil'arendtor top'wall l6 and a front wall [8. The'top wall it isv hingedly connected as at 21'! to the upper end of the back wall and has flanged means "22 which-swings down over the adjacent ends of'theside wallslil -and1l2. This .top wall is 'provi'dke'd at" its :center with an exteriorly disposed'handegrip fl- ('see'Figures 2 and 3) of any suitable construction. Italso has affixed thereto "awsocket member -zt carrying aset screwZB which serves a purpose hereinafter described. The front panel ".orwall i l8 has I marginal flange means 30, if desired, and is hingedly joined at its inner endto -the bottom wall M as denoted at 32. Thus the wai-1s8,.t0, IZ-and M are fixed and the topwall l6 and front wall 3- are hinged to he swung to theopen positions illustrated in.the drawings. The front=wall is provided with suitable keeper hooks- 34 and these servetto accommodate wire fastener loopsw36forming portions ofappropriatefastenersaatl mountedon the exterior of the topwall. vThese means 34, 36 and 3 8 ere: not detailed. may be. of. any suitable construction sunficientrtoholdthe-walls. l 6 and I8 in closed relationship.

at 62, to the side walls I and I2.

Referring to Figure 1, the numerals 40 desi nate folding stay devices. These are of any suitable construction and include links 42-42 pivotally connected with complemental links 4444, the links 44 being joined with brackets 46 on the lid or front wall l8. The links 42 are pivotally joined with the side walls l0 and I2 as at 48. These stay devices, or braces as they are sometimes called, obviouslyserve to sustain the front wall in its open base forming position as illustrated in Figure 1. There is a socket member 50 mounted on the interior of the upper portion of side walls l2. A hook 52 is secured to the interior of the other side walls and these parts 50 and 52 are directly opposite one another. They serve a purpose hereinafter described.

The built-in folding or collapsible display rack means comprises a horizontally disposed U- shaped yoke 54. This has a central or bight portion 56 and lateral end portions 58-58 which have flattened terminals Gil-which are hinged, as The rack comprises a tube 64 which stands upright after the rack has been moved to display position, which is integral with the yoke, and which extends from the center of the bight'portion 56 at right angles to the plane of the yoke 54. It serves to accommodate a telescoping extensible and retractible comple'mental tube 66 held in adjusted position by a set screw 68. A T-head H! is secured on'the upper end of the tube 65 and is provided with a lateral tubular extension 12 con.- stituting a socket member. This is adapted to accommodate a reduced end portion 14 (see Figure 2) which is formed integral with the attachable and detachable reach arm Iii. The outer end of the arm is provided with aperture means 18 and a stop lug 80. This lug serves to prevent the outermost garment hanger 82 from slipping off of the reach arm, in an obvious manner. The garment is detachably connected with the garment hanger, said garment being denoted by the numeral 83. Referring in particular to Figure 2, it will be seen that the intermediate. portion of the upright tube 64 is provided with lugs 84 and that a coupling pin 86 is hingedly mounted between the lugs as at 88. This pin is adapted to fit telescopically into a bore in the aforementioned socket member or bracket 26. The set screw 28 is tightened to hold the pin 86 in place. The pin, bracket and hinged top wall [6 coordi-' nate in maintaining the upright means in perpendicular or erected position as shown in Figures 1 and 2.

When the rack means is folded into the closed case as shown in Figure 3, the reach arm 16 is detached from the socket member 12. The extension 14 is fitted into the aforementioned socket 56 and the apertured end 18 is engaged over the hook 52. The reach arm thus has the double purpose of serving as a reach arm and also as a garment hanger pole when the case is closed and ready to be carried from place to place.

Referring to Figure 3, and assuming that the user is ready to travel to a given destination, it will be noted that the so-called upright means of the display rack depends vertically within the confines of the closed walls of the case. That is to say, tube 64 hangs down and tube 66 has been fastened therein by the set screw 68 so as to position the head means close to the bottom wall M. The stay devices '40 are, of course, folded within thecase inan obvious manner. The reach arm 16 in this"parti cular arrangementis" suspended between the socket member-50 9.net the hook- 5,2

'4 where it functions as a pole and the garments (dresses, slips, and the like) are draped over it somewhat in the manner illustrated. The fastening devices 36 and 34 are, of course, now connected to keep the two swingable walls I8 and I6 closed.

When the salesman reaches a store to demonstrate and display his merchandise, he swings the cover or front wall I8 down and fastens it in the down position by the stay devices 40 as illustrated in Figure 1. He then swings the rack means up and out through the open front of the case, fits pin 86 in bracket 26, and continues to swing the rack and top wall until they take the position shown in Figure 1. The brace rod or pin 86 is then fastened with the set screw 28. Thus, the top wall l6 and means 26, 28 and 84 to 88 will hold the upright in its erected position. The arm 16 is detached from the socket member 50 and hook 52 and the extension 14 is telescoped into the socket member 12. The rack is now ready for use. The garments with their garmentv hangers are strung in an obvious fashion on the reach arm as shown in Figure 1.

It is believed that the reader will appreciate that the convertible carrying and transporting. case and complemental rack means provides a' structure in which manufacturers and users will find their essential needs fully met, contained and effectively available.

It is thought that persons skilled in the art to which the invention relates will be able to obtain a clear understanding of the invention after considering the description in connection with the drawings. Therefore, a more lengthy description is regard as unnecessary.

Minor changes in the shape, size, materials and arrangement of parts may be resorted to in actual practice without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as claimed.

Having described the invention, claimed as new is:

what is 1. A portable convertible-type travelling salesadjacent front edge of said bottom wall and 00- cupying a horizontal position coplanar with said bottom wall and resting in firm contact with said support surface, folding stay devices operatively attached to said side walls and front wall respectively, and maintaining said front wall in said coplanar position with said bottom wall, whereby said case is caused to stand in an open front upright position on said support surface, said top wall being hinged to the upper end of said back wall, a horizontal U-shaped yoke embodying a bight portion paralleling the upper end of said back wall in closed spaced relationship and lateral ends hingedly mounted between the upper end portions of said side walls, an upright secured at its lower end to the central portion of said bight portion and rising perpendicularly to a position above said case, means'affording a separable operating connection between said upright and top wall and supporting the latter wall in an upstanding position coplanar with said back wall, a head carried by the upper end of said upright, and a horizontal reach arm overlying said front wall and detachably connected at one end to'said head.

23A portable convertible-type travelling sales:

mans sample storing, carrying and sample displaying case set up for display use comprising a rectangular case embodying flat top, bottom, back, front and side walls, said bottom wall supported on a stationary horizontal support surface, said front wall hingedly attached at one end to the adjacent front edge of said bottom wall and occupying a horizontal position coplanar with said bottom wall and resting in firm contact with said support surface, folding stay devices operatively attached to said side walls and front wall repectively, and maintaining said front wall in said coplanar position with said bottom wall, whereby said case is caused to stand in an open front upright ,position on said support surface, said top wall being hinged to the upper end of said back wall, a horizontal U-shaped yoke embodying a bight portion paralleling the upper end of said back wall in closed spaced relationship and lateral ends hingedly mounted between the upper end portions of said side walls, an upright secured at its lower end to the central portion of said bight portion and rising perpendicularly to a position above said case, means affording a separable operating connection between said upright and top wall and supporting the latter wall in an upstanding position coplanar with said back wall, said upright being vertically extensible and retractible and, when retracted, being capable of storage within the confines of the case after the walls are closed for conveniently carrying the case, an angular head secured to the upper end of said upright, said head embodying a lateral socket at right angles to said upright and parallel to and overlying said bottom wall, and a horizontal reach arm having one end detachably joined with said socket, said arm overlying the central portion of said front wall in vertically spaced parallelism.

3. A portable convertible-type travelling salesmans sample storing, carrying and sample displaying case set up for display use comprising a rectangular case embodying fiat top, bottom, back, front and side walls, said bottom wall supported on a. stationary horizontal support surface, said front wall hingedly attached at one end to the adjacent front edge of said bottom wall and occupy a horizontal position coplanar with said bottom wall and resting in firm contact with said support surface, folding stay devices operatively attached to said side walls and front wall respectively, and maintaining said front wall in said coplanar position with said bottom wall, whereby said case is caused to stand in an open front upright position on said support surface, said top wall being hinged to the upper end of said back wall, a horizontal U -shaped yoke embodying a b ight portion paralleling the upper end of said back wall in closed spaced relationship and lateral ends hingedly mounted between the upper end portions of said side walls, an upright secured at its lower end to the central portion of said bight portion and rising perpendicularly to a position above said case, a socket member secured to an exterior centrally located surface of said to wall, a vertical depending brace rod pivotally connected at one end to said upright, said top wall being in a vertical position coplanar with said back wall, the other end of said brace rod fitting telescopically and removably in said socket member whereby said top wall occupies a vertical position between said upright and brace, and a horizontal reach arm overlying said front wall in vertically spaced parallelism and having one end detachably connected with the upper end of said upright.

JACOB J. HELLMAN.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 941,608 Benson Nov. 30, 1909 1,311,586 Beecher July 29, 1919 1,673,730 Bartels June 12, 1928 1,799,521 Levineet al. Apr. 7, 1931 1,814,336 Ritter July 14, 1931 1,865,757 Honsowetz July 5, 1932 1,896,010 Persons Jan. 31, 1933 2,016,688 Stelljes Oct. 8, 1935 2,064,046 Wintz Dec. 15, 1936 2,449,426 Strauss Sept. 14, 1948 2,476,932 Tucker July 19, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 751,821 France June 26, 1933 

